With 20 jobs up for grabs to service oil and gas wells, 243 people applied for the work during a recruitment session Wednesday in The Employment Source in New Philadelphia.

By 7:30 a.m., job seekers formed a line that snaked around inside Monroe Centre for the event scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. SOS Staffing conducted its second recruitment session for Schlumberger Ltd., a major oil field service provider to oil and gas companies worldwide. A session in November attracted 125 applicants for 20 jobs.

“We’ve been told that the company is very pleased with the first group, who was hired in November,” said Monica Gwin, spokeswoman for The Employment Source. “The recruiters also told us they were very pleased with today’s session.”

Wednesday’s session was scheduled to end at 2 p.m., and no applications were accepted after that time. However, recruiters interviewed everyone, wrapping up by about 4:15 p.m.

One of the last in line was Cliff Risley, 31, of New Philadelphia. The jobs require working outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions, and Risley looked the part, wearing heavy work clothing. He works for Jan’s Construction of Dellroy, trimming trees as part of safety maintenance efforts along power lines for Carroll Electric Cooperative.

Like many on Wednesday, he was drawn by the allure of earning $40,000 to $50,000 the first year of employment, plus benefits, as the Tuscarawas Valley region prepares for a drilling boom in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations in the oil and natural-gas industry.

“It’s a great opportunity to make some good money,” Risley said, adding that the potential wages and benefits are what’s being talked about “all over Carroll County” and the region.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to find a new field to work in,” he added.

Gwin said that the process went well, adding that she and three other staff from the Canton office of TES came to help out. Applicants went to a registration table in the hallway of TES and then were sent to a holding room to fill out applications. Those who already are registered with TES advanced to another room prior to being interviewed by SOS Staffing personnel.

Gwin was pleased that many job seekers responded to a story in Friday’s edition of The Times-Reporter when she encouraged them to register with TES. She had explained that “it doesn’t advance your position if there’s a line of prospective employees, because recruitments are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.” It did save applicants time on Wednesday “because you have to fill out a form that is the same information that’s needed for our services. When you register with The Employment Source, you receive a membership card.”

Also in the story, Gwin encouraged people to go to TES prior to the event if they needed help with a resume. At least two dozen applicants did so, according to Lori Douglass, Resource Room Specialist at TES in New Philadelphia.

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“Some people needed to create a resume, others just needed to update what they already have,” Douglass said. “For the most part, we have people who are able to do the work. We just help them articulate their skills on the resume. For instance, if they are willing to travel and that they can do the heavy lifting required.”

Gwin added, “We give people the resource tools that they need to get the job they want.”

A few who didn’t have resumes on Wednesday were able to prepare them while waiting for an interview.

Douglass said TES staff “have been very busy. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. People are asking about the job requirements, what the company is looking for and what they should bring with them. We tell them an updated resume and their driver’s license. We also received a lot of calls for directions to get here.”

Prospective employees must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license and a GED or high school diploma. Other requirements were: a résumé; be able to do repeated, heavy lifting of at least 50 to 100 pounds; work 60 to 80 hours a week; and undergo a criminal background check and drug test. Free on-the-job training and a complete benefits package will be provided to those who are hired.

Oil field workers often are expected to work 15 straight days and up to 80 hours per week, followed by six days off. Workers must be able to work outdoors and be willing to travel.

Gwin said some applicants had to be turned away because they didn’t meet the company’s age requirement of 21. “They were even certified in various skills,” she said.

Many of the job seekers came from Canton and Massillon. Some came from East Liverpool, while one man from Illinois used TES services Tuesday.

“It’s been a real cross-section of people,” Gwin said, adding that four women were among those applying. “I’m glad we were able to this large of turnout. We made sure we had extra staff here to accommodate what we anticipated would be large numbers.”

Last month, Schlumberger Ltd. purchased about 140 acres in the Strasburg Industrial Park. Plans call for opening a facility there this year that will provide a projected 250 jobs.

“All they’re recruiting for now is the oil field operators,” Gwin said, adding there should be opportunities in other areas later.

Schlumberger has indicated about 50 jobs will be administrative – including engineering, management or supervisory jobs. The other 200 jobs will be related to the drilling industry, such as drill-site operators and mechanics.